| Comment Number: | OL-10503156 |
| Received: | 3/4/2005 10:00:29 AM |
| Subject: | Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Request for Comment |
| Title: | National Security Personnel System |
| CFR Citation: | 5 CFR Chapter XCIX and Part 9901 |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
I would like to express my grave concerns regarding the Administration's proposed changes to work rules in the Department of Defense (DoD). The proposed regulations, known as the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), were published in the Federal Register on February 14, 2005. The following message will be sent to both DoD and my representatives in Congress. I have worked for DoD for 22 years. I am very angry and concerned. The proposed changes imply that civil servants are a threat to our countries security. Most DoD employees are honest patriots that work hard and are committed to the accomplishment of their agency's mission. I believe that these management changes, allegedly proposed to create a secure Federal agency, is nothing more than an overkill reaction to a far-fetched scenario, that plays on fear. I believe that these changes will not create the level of security that the Administration claims it will. The proposal is an extreme measure, thinly disguised as a noble effort to secure our Country, that in fact, is no more than a pitiful excuse to break the Federal employees union. These changes will unfairly disadvantage employees, devastate morale and ultimately have a very negative impact on the agency’s mission. For these reasons, I am very much against the proposed NSPS system. This system will change everything about Federal employment, including the way workers are paid, evaluated, promoted, fired, scheduled, and treated. The rules would create a hands free, open-ended system, where federal managers are free to make any determination they desire, with little or no justification. There are too many managers who already get away with abusing the current award and promotion systems. The proposed NSPS changes would remove all the checks and balances that have taken years to establish, which have been employees only safeguard against injustices and unfair practices. Employees need recourse and a place to go for protection when managers abuse their authority. The proposed changes will open the door wide, allowing managers to take almost any action desired, with little or no accountability. Putting the fox in charge of the hen house is a recipe for disaster. Surely a security initiative can be developed that is effective without reinventing the entire civil service system. How does giving federal managers dominion over Federal employees enhance workplace security? Federal managers are Federal employees too. The implication is that Federal employees are a security risk and managers are not! Federal employees should not have to give-up a fair labor work environment in order to have workplace security. Workplace security and fair labor practices are not conflicting concepts. An integration of both can easily coexist effectively, and have done so for years. I believe that the entire NSPS proposal is counter productive and flawed. I urge you to oppose the NSPS proposal. Anyone not opposing this irresponsible initiative will be remembered at election time. We have served our country well and due to the current administration's squeeze the little American's agenda, NSPS is the thanks that we get.